Acquiring star outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard from the Minnesota Vikings this offseason was unquestionably a massive pick-up for the Philadelphia Eagles. Just how massive, though?
Well, if history is any indication, Greenard's arrival in Philadelphia could have seismic implications on the race for NFC and NFL supremacy at large. The club has been at its best when getting to the quarterback at a high level, which he does in spades.
We've seen the Eagles competing for and winning Super Bowls — plural — by generating pressure. Trading for Greenard signals they want to maintain the identity that's made them so successful in the past, as Mike Sando of The Athletic highlighted.
Sando called Greenard's addition his "favorite" Eagles offseason move ($), citing the impact the former Vikings standout can have in the City of Brotherly Love.
"The bottom line is that Philly, a team that has contended for and won championships on the strength of its pass rush, added a proven rusher," Sando wrote.
Jonathan Greenard might be the key to the Eagles' Super Bowl aspirations
Philly ranked 20th in ESPN's pass rush win rate last season and lost Jaelan Phillips to the Carolina Panthers in free agency. The Eagles had to adjust accordingly, leading them to take a big swing on Greenard, who profiles as a potential X-factor.
An established commodity of Greenard's pedigree landing with a perennial contender of the Eagles' stature is like Thanos finding the final Infinity Stone. He can dominate on the perimeter while the standout defensive tackle duo of Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis feast on the interior. It sets up a nightmare situation for opposing offenses, especially with their opportunistic secondary led by All-Pros Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean lurking.
Coming off a down, injury-marred campaign, Greenard has proven to be one of the league's premier pass rushers when right. He recorded back-to-back 12-plus-sack efforts in 2023 and 2024, like Sando pointed out.
Judging by the Eagles' actions, there's no shortage of confidence that Greenard can return to being a game-wrecker. Otherwise, they wouldn't have given up two third-round picks and signed him to a team-friendly four-year, $98 million contract extension in April.
Read more: Jalen Hurts potentially spoke his final words to Eagles fans about A.J. Brown
Greenard's presence isn't just felt against the pass either; he's a true three-down force. His strong 77.8 run-defense Pro Football Focus grade was good for 12th out of 115 qualified edge rushers. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has already touched on the difference the 29-year-old can make on their unit.
Add us as a preferred source on Google